Thanks to the generosity of film director Tom Shadyac and a host of concerned community members, The Haven opened its doors in January 2010.

The Haven’s story begins in 2004 when Jim Barns, reference librarian at JMRL’s downtown branch, writes a letter about the plight of those experiencing homelessness in the Charlottesville area. Jim’s letter inspires a larger community conversation about the need for a centrally-located day shelter.

Tom, a UVA alum, returned to Charlottesville in 2005 to shoot the movie Evan Almighty. While here, Tom and his crew got to know many of the people who were experiencing homelessness in our city. He was struck by the real needs of those living in extreme poverty, especially in a place as vibrant and affluent as Charlottesville.

Tom decided he wanted to do something to address and ultimately end homelessness in Charlottesville. After meeting with advocates, officials, and community members, he purchased and renovated the historic First Christian Church on the corner of Market Street and First Street, with the purpose of transforming it into a low-barrier day shelter and social resource center.

In 2008, Tom hired Janet Matthews to project manage the renovation, then called the First Street Church Project. Janet forged a partnership with the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH), formerly known as Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless, and in 2009, BRACH hired Kaki Dimock as their executive director. Kaki was tasked with opening and operating The Haven, and on January 18, 2010, The Haven opened its doors.

Since then, The Haven has steadily worked towards fulfilling our mission of providing a safe and welcoming space for people experiencing homelessness and poverty and supporting individuals and families as they pursue stability through connections to resources and creative housing interventions. All of this is done in support of our vision of ending homelessness in the Charlottesville community.

In 2014 The Haven began administering our community’s first federally and state funded program designed specifically to prevent homelessness. In 2015, The Haven became an independent nonprofit, began administering our community’s Rapid Re-housing program, and Housing2Home, a partnership with New City Arts.

In 2019, The Haven opened its first privately-funded program to end or reduce homelessness for community members. This program is now known as the Laura DeLapp Haven Housing Fund.